Condensing attachment for automobile radiators



Dec. 6, 1927. 1,652,045

V. PAONE CONDENSING ATTACHMENT FOR AUTOMOBILE RADIATORS Filed Feb. 28, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet ,1

' Dec. 6, 1927. 1,652,045

v. PAONE CONDENSING ATTACHMENT FOR AUTOMOBILE RADIATORS Filed F b, 28, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z 7225? 12 20 j aaiz e;

QWR I I' (Inca "ego Patented Dec; 6, 1927.

UNITED STATES VINCENZO PAON 'E, OF UTICA, NEW YORK.

CONDENSING ATTACHMENT FOR; AUTOMOBILE RADIATORS.

Application filed February 28, 1927. Serial No. 171,625.

The invention relates to condensing attachments adapted to receiy any steam discharging from automobile radiators through the usual overflow pipes, such condensers serving to condense this steamand to retain the water of condensation until the engine cools. Upon such cooling however, a partial vacuum is created in the upper header of the radiator, with the result that the condensate is drawn back into said header.

It is the object of the invention to provide a device of the class described, of new, improved and generally simplified construction, yet one which will be exceptionally eflicient and desirable and may be readily mounted directly behind and connected with a radiator.

The device embodies a vertically elongated tank, a pair of vertically disposed headers secured to and projecting downwardly from said tank, in spaced, opposed relation with each other, one of these headers being closed at its upper end and being provided with a steam inlet while the other header has its upper end in communication with the tank.

Horizontal tubes extend between and estab- '-lish communication between the headers, and

means are associated with these tubes to carry off heat, so that any steam passing through the tubes, will be promptly condensed to water. It is a further aim of the invention to so relate the inlet ends of the tubes with the adjacent header, as to insure substantially uniform passage of steam through all of said tubes.

With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, the description being supplemented by the accompanying drawings.

. Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of the invention applied to a radiator.

Fig. 2 is a vertical tially on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation on an enlarged scale, partly in vertical section.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 3. Fig. .5 is a horizontal section partly in elevation as indicated by line '5-5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view similar to a portion of Fig. 5 but showing a different .form of tube for connecting the headers.

In the drawings above briefly described, the numeral 7 designates a vertically elongated, rectangular tank having a vent 8 from sectional view substanits upper end to the atmosphere. With the exception of this vent, and a slot 9 atone end of the tank bottom 10, said tank is fluidtight.

planes and have their outer side walls extended upwardly as at 11 and 12 beyond the body portions of the headers, these extended ends being soldered, brazed or otherwise secured against the outer sides of two opposed walls of the tank 7 The upper end of the header 11 is closed by the tank bottom 10 to which" it may well be soldered, but the upper end of the header 12 which is similarly secured to the tank is in direct communication with the slot 9.

The lower portion of the header 11 is provided with a steam inlet nipple 13 adapted for connection, by means of a rubber tube or the like 14, with the usual overflow pipe '15 of a radiator 16. Horizontal passages lead from the header 11 to the header 12 and have means associated therewith for carrying 01f heat. In most figures, these passages are in the form of tubes 17 which pass through openings in spaced metal fins 18, the fins and tubes constituting condensing means which is positioned between the two headers.

Fig. 6 discloses a flat, zig-zag tube 17 extending between the headers 1112 and forming part of a conventional honeycomb structure 18 which may be used as the conden:er between the two headers, instead of embodying the tubes and fins previously described.

The tubes 17 are preferably disposed in staggered relation as will be clear from Figs.

3, 4 and 5, and at one end, these tubes project into the header 11, as indicated at 19. These projecting tube ends have their lower sides cut away as at 20, permitting free entrance of steam into the tubes from the header 11. By having the extended ends 19, cut away at their lower portions and by disposing the tubes 17 in staggered relation, it is insured that steam rising from the inlet 12 in the header 11, will enter all of the tubes 17 in substantially a uniform manner, distributing this steam over the maximum cooling and condensing surfaces.

At 21, I have shown two horizontal metal stripswhich are secured to and extend transversely across the rear side of the tank 7, the ends of these strips projecting beyond said tank and having openings to receive 1 60 I Two substantially flat headers- 11 and 12 respectively are disposed in spaced vertical bolts or the like 22 by means of which the entire device may be mounted at the rear side out the radiator 16. Although the tank, condensing means and headers would be in contact with parts of the radiator it installed as shown in Fig. 2, I prefer to provide suitable spacing means (not shown) to space the device about a half inch behind the radiator core, so that it will not absorb heat from said core.

In operation, any steam discharging from the radiator through the overflow pipe 15, passes through the tube 14 to the header l1, rises within the latter and enters the condensing tubes 17, in which it is converted to water. This water then enters the header 12 and discharges through the slot 9, into the tank 7. This discharge of water from the header 12 into the tank, will of course only take place as long as the steam enters the header 11 under pressure, and as soon as such entrance of steam ceases, the water of condensation will of course seek the same level in the tank and the tube 15. Moreover, as the water in the radiator cools sufiiciently, a partial vacuum is created in the upper header of said radiator, and this vacuum causes return of water of condensation to the radiator, through the tube 15. During this return of water, air is admitted to the tank 7 through the vent 8, and this vent also acts as a safety overflow, in case of excessive pressure within the radiator and parts connected therewith.

From the foregoing, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that while I have produced an exceptionally simple, inexpensive and easily applied devicc, it will be highly ellicientand in every way desirable. Particular attention may be invited to the arrangement of headers and condensing tubes. By this arrangement, the steam stands no chance of immediately rising into the tank without being first condensed, as it cannot follow its natural tendency to merely ascend, but must pass horizontally through the condensing tubes, insuring much greater efiiciency than if said tubes were disposed vertically.

I claim:

1. A steam-condensing and condensate storing attachment for an automobile radiator, comprising a vertically elongated tank having a vent to the atmosphere, a pair of vertically disposed headers secured to and aoaa projecting downwardly from said tank in opposed horizontally spaced relation with each other, condensing means between said headers embodying horizontal passages establishing communication between them, a steam inlet into one of said headers adapted for connection with the radiatoroverflow pipe, and an outlet from the upper end of the other header into the tank, said one header being segregated against communication with the tank except through said passages and said other header.

2. A steam-condensing and condensate storing attachment for an automobile radiator, comprising a vertically elongated rectangular tank having a vent to the atmosphere, two flat vertically disposed headers disposed in spaced parallel planes and having their outer side walls extended upwardly beyond the body portions of the headers and secured to the outer sides of two opposed side walls of the tank, the upper end of one header being in communication with said tank and the upper end of the other header being closed by the bottom of said tank, a steam inlet into the last named header for connection with the radiator overflow pipe, and condensing means between the two headers embodying horizontal passages from one header to the other.

3. A steam-condensing and condensate storing attachment for an automobile radiator, comprising a vertically elongated tank having a vent to the atmosphere, a pair of vertically disposed headers secured to and pro jecting downwardly from said tank in 0p posed horizontally spaced relation with each other, condensing means between said headers embodying horizontal tubes establishing communication between them, a steam inlet into one of said headers adapted for connection with a radiator overflow pipe, and an outlet from the other header into the tank, said one header being segregated against communication with said tank except through said tubes and said other header; said tubes being staggered and projecting into said one header, the lower sides of the projecting tube portions being cut away, providing for su'bstantially uniform entrance of steam into said tubes. 7

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

VINCENZO PAONE. 

